The good news for Iain Dowie is that only two of Hull’s six remaining games are away. Hull’s dismal away run stands at 22 league matches without a win and it was not hard to see why their 13-month barren spell goes on.

At no point at the Britannia Stadium did they look capable of scoring and after Ricardo Fuller had given Stoke the lead in the sixth minute, the game was effectively over.

Net result: Ricardo fuller (floored, right) puts Stoke a goal to the good

Liam Lawrence added the second goal late on but Hull were going
through the motions and down to 10 men by then after a nasty injury to
George Boateng when all their substitutes had been used.

The experienced midfielder was kept in hospital last night with a
suspected broken jaw he suffered trying to head the ball clear.

He was caught in the face by Tuncay as the substitute Stoke forward
tried an overhead kick. A nervous five minutes ensued as Boateng
appeared be unconscious but Dowie’s verdict was more optimistic.

‘There was a great deal of concern because George had a lot of blood
in his airway,’ said the SportHull boss. ‘He was struggling to breathe
but they suctioned that out and he was a lot more comfortable.

That sinking feeling: Hull slumped to their second defeat in three games under Iain Dowie

There was no malice from Tuncay, I think he was shocked too and hopefully George is fine, but it was one hell of a whack.’

Matt Etherington was impressive for Stoke and Hull had some decent
possession but there was a shared lack of edge after Dave Kitson had
flicked on for Fuller to run clear and score. ‘It was a joke goal,’
said Dowie. ‘It was one we couldn’t afford to give away and that
allowed them a massive foothold.’

Stoke’s second goal was side-footed home neatly by Lawrence in the
90th minute to take Tony Pulis’ team past the 40-point mark, but they
were already looking up the table, rather than down.

‘That is enough to keep us in the Premier League for another year,’ said the Stoke manager.